Yes, you can make it at home, but it's a little more complicated than you might think. A little more complicated is an understatement. If you can buy activated charcoal and stock it, go for it. Making it is a complex and tedious chore. Some websites say it’s so easy. Well, it's not. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you have to be patient and … [Read more...]
10 Amazing Uses for Activated Charcoal
At one time, activated charcoal was considered a universal antidote for a wide range of conditions. With the advent of modern medicine, the popularity of activated charcoal declined. However, in recent years it has seen a bit of a resurgence, especially among the alternative medicine community. In this article, we’ll take a look at what … [Read more...]
25 DIY Fire Pit Plans That Are Easy To Build
With summer right around the corner, you may already be planning some home improvement projects. If you plan on entertaining family and friends or experimenting with some survival techniques, a fire pit is a brilliant addition to your backyard. Whether you’re cooking hot dogs or cozying up next to your kids, your fire pit will get tons of … [Read more...]
25 Off Grid Uses for Five Gallon Buckets
The origin of the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” is somewhat unclear. Most people think it dates back to the first Earth Day held on April 22, 1970. For dedicated homesteaders, however, the popular mantra is more than a call to reduce trash -- it is a way of life. One of the most useful items homesteaders can recycle is the five-gallon bucket. … [Read more...]
How to Make Old-Fashioned Gunpowder (with Pictures)
Black powder, the original gunpowder, can be made from sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. Even if you never make your own gunpowder, these items are worth having on the homestead, anyway. In fact, they all have a place on the homestead for one use or another. Are you going to be firing a black powder rifle with your homemade black powder? … [Read more...]
Diatomaceous Earth: The Miracle Mineral With Dozens of Uses
So what exactly is diatomaceous earth (DE)? Well, it's the fossilized remains of small aquatic organisms that are usually found in the bottom of rivers, oceans, and lakes. These little organisms are called Diatoms. To create DE, these Diatoms are ground up to create a smooth food grade powder that is easy to use in a multitude of ways, from skin … [Read more...]
60 Things You Should Stop Buying and Start Making
Do you really feel like driving to the store every time you run out of dish soap? And do you really feel like spending $10 on name brand deodorant that you could make at home for $3? Wake up, people! A self-sufficient lifestyle is so much more rewarding (and inexpensive)! Once you know how to make everyday cleaning products and your favorite … [Read more...]
Simple Soap Recipe With Olive Oil and Coconut Oil
In my family, we all have itchy skin. It's kind of a family curse. All sorts of things will cause our skin to itch: Not drinking enough water, direct contact with grass and bushes, or using store-bought laundry detergent. This is why I started making my own laundry detergent a long time ago. It's also why I started making my own bar soap. … [Read more...]
Over 2,000 Survival Uses for Everyday Items
This is one you're going to want to bookmark. It's the ultimate index to survival uses for everyday items. Below you'll find a list of nearly 100 ordinary items that have all sorts of survival applications. I did the math, and it adds up to 2,046 survival uses! I put the items in alphabetical order, and next to each item I listed some of my … [Read more...]
6 Things Homesteaders Should Never Throw Away (And Why)
Did you know that in 2014, the EPA estimated that the average American produced 0.371 pounds of food waste per day? That adds up to about 135lbs per person/per year. Multiply that by how many adults or young adults live in your home and wowza--that’s a lot of food that could have been used towards something useful and beneficial around the … [Read more...]
Get Rid of Tree Stumps & Trunks By Growing Delicious Mushrooms
Grinding tree stumps is usually how we deal with them. If you have land to clear on your homestead, it could become quite a chore to get these stumps taken care of. But did you know that you can eat your stumps? Well, that is not exactly true. If you head out there and start chewing on tree stumps, they won't taste very good. And there is no method … [Read more...]
50 Ways to Upcycle Old Socks and T-Shirts
If you are a friend to the universe, what I’m about to tell you might shake you... Did you know that more than 15 million tons of clothing waste is produced every year in the US? And did you know that it takes about 40 years for clothing to decompose? We have been so busy fighting the ‘war on plastic’ that we rarely think about what happens to … [Read more...]
Bicycle-Powered Washing Machine
There are many ways to wash your clothes off the grid--the WonderWash, MobileWasher, or a good ole fashioned Washboard--but nothing is quite as simple and effective as an electric washing machine. Unfortunately, washing machines take a lot of power. How do you use a washing machine when you either don't have electricity or it's in short supply? … [Read more...]
11 Surprising Uses for Soap
Who doesn’t love discovering multipurpose household items? If you love saving money, getting innovative around the house, and being an overall hero, then you’re going to love these tips and tricks on how to use bar soap and dish soap in out-of-the-ordinary ways. With great power comes great responsibility. Prepare to be known as the go-to … [Read more...]
23 Surprising Uses for Washing Soda
If you like making your own laundry soap in order to save money or control the chemicals in your home, you're probably familiar with washing soda. It only costs a few dollars for a large box and can be used for laundry and a variety of other jobs. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. Nothing more, nothing less. You will often find sodium carbonate … [Read more...]
10 Cleaning Products You Can Make Yourself
You go to the store, pick up a bottle of Febreeze, and take it home to spray all around your house. With one deep inhale, you take in those lovely fresh scents...but did you know that you're also taking in harmful lung and skin irritants? It's true. Many "fresh smelling" air fresheners, window cleaners, and stain removers consist of harmful … [Read more...]
16 Ways to Use Wood Ash on Your Homestead
As you pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, you probably are discovering many ways to repurpose items around your home and property. Wood ash is something you may have a lot of, especially if you have a fireplace, woodstove, or campfire. Did you know there are many beneficial ways to use wood ash? Before we get into our list of 16 uses, let’s … [Read more...]
